Sylvester McCoy entertains at Malta Comics Expo 2014

Sylvester McCoy has done everything in the entertainment business except for ballet. The multitalented actor told the audience at Malta Comics Expo 2014 about his circus career and acting. “I like doing it all,” says McCoy. “I like the infinite variety of it.” Watching the priests influenced him toward acting. They seemed to have a good time, and they got to wear cool costumes while addressing a captive audience. He was in seminary school when he decided to become a Dominican monk. They accepted him, but when he arrived, they told him he was too young and asked him to come back in a year. He went to school and discovered girls. That’s when he decided “rather than wear a skirt, I’d chase one instead.” That was the end of him becoming the pope. McCoy says that plays are physically demanding and hard work, but he enjoys playing the audience. Film is smaller. “When you are on stage, you’re a god,” says McCoy. “[In] film, you’re just a piece of a jigsaw.”Doctor Who McCoy’s agent called the person in charge and said that Sylvester McCoy should be the next Doctor. “Sylvester who?” “Yes,” replied the agent. When McCoy became Doctor Who, Colin Baker, the previous Doctor was not available for the regeneration scene, so McCoy played both parts. McCoy was glad to see an older Doctor. “In society, all our superheroes are pretty young,” and they use their muscles to save the world while wearing their underpants on the outside, says Mccoy. “It seemed to be great to have an older person use his brain to save the world.” “The Master was the scariest” monster, says McCoy, both the part and the actor.The Hobbit McCoy did a screen test for Bilbo Baggins, and it came down to him and Ian Holm. McCoy didn’t get the part. When McCoy was playing the fool to Ian McKellen’s King Lear, they went to New Zealand where they were invited to Peter Jackson’s house, and that is how he became Radagast the brown.Read about Sylvester McCoy's Hobbit panel